Method for generating a microbial deactivation fluid in an apparatus for deactivating instruments and devices

Abstract

A method of generating a microbial deactivation fluid to circulate through an apparatus that has a decontamination chamber for holding medical instruments and devices, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first compartment and a second compartment in the circulation system; (b) providing a chemical reagent in the first compartment and a builder composition in the second compartment; (c) causing a fluid to flow through the second compartment to mix with the builder composition to create an alkaline fluid; (d) when the alkaline fluid has reached a predetermined pH level, causing the alkaline fluid to flow through the first compartment to mix with the chemical reagent to dissolve the chemical reagent to generate a microbial deactivation fluid; and (e) continuing steps (c) and (d) to continue the generation of the microbial deactivation fluid.

1. In an apparatus for deactivating medical instruments and devices having a circulation system for circulating a fluid through a decontamination chamber for holding medical instruments and devices, a method of generating a microbial deactivation fluid and exposing said devices to said microbial deactivation fluid for an instrument exposure period of time comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a first compartment and a second compartment in said circulation system; 
 (b) providing a chemical reagent in said first compartment and a builder composition in said second compartment; 
 (c) causing a fluid to flow through said second compartment to begin dissolving said builder composition to create an alkaline fluid that is conveyed through said decontamination chamber; 
 (d) circulating said alkaline fluid through said second compartment and said decontamination chamber until said alkaline fluid has reached a predetermined pH level, then causing said alkaline fluid to flow through said first compartment to begin dissolving said chemical reagent to generate a microbial deactivation fluid; 
 (e) continuing steps (c) and (d) to continue the generation of said microbial deactivation fluid; and 
 (f) maintaining the concentration of said microbial deactivation fluid flowing through said decontamination chamber at a predetermined concentration for an instrument exposure period of time by continuously flowing said fluid at a first flow rate through said first compartment and at a second flow rate through said second compartment during said instrument exposure period of time such that the ratio of said first flow rate to said second flow rate results in optimal generation of said microbial deactivation fluid during said instrument exposure period of time. 
 
     
     
       2. A method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 (g) causing said microbial deactivation fluid to flow through said decontamination chamber at a predetermined temperature. 
 
     
     
       3. A method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said predetermined temperature is between about 50° C. and about 60° C. 
     
     
       4. A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined pH level is between about 8.0 and about 9.0. 
     
     
       5. A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined minimum concentration of said microbial deactivation fluid is between about 1250 ppm and about 2000 ppm. 
     
     
       6. A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said chemical reagent is acetylsalicylic acid. 
     
     
       7. A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said builder composition includes a per-salt. 
     
     
       8. A method as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said per-salt is sodium perborate. 
     
     
       9. In an apparatus for deactivating medical instruments and devices having a circulation system for circulating a fluid through a decontamination chamber for holding medical instruments and devices, a method of generating a microbial deactivation fluid comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a first compartment and a second compartment in said circulation system; 
 (b) providing a chemical reagent in said first compartment and a builder composition in said second compartment; 
 (c) causing said fluid having a temperature between about 45° C. and about 60° C. to flow through said second compartment to begin dissolving said builder composition to create an alkaline fluid in said decontamination chamber; and 
 (d) when said alkaline fluid in said decontamination chamber has reached a predetermined pH level, causing said alkaline fluid to flow through said first compartment to begin dissolving said chemical reagent to generate a microbial deactivation; 
 (e) maintaining the concentration of said microbial deactivation fluid flowing through said decontamination chamber at a predetermined concentration for an instrument exposure period of time by continuously dissolving said chemical reagent at a first rate and said builder composition at a second rate during said instrument exposure period of time. 
 
     
     
       10. A method as defined in  claim 9 , further comprising the step of:
 (f) causing said microbial deactivation fluid to flow through said decontamination chamber at a predetermined temperature. 
 
     
     
       11. A method as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said predetermined temperature is between about 50° C. and about 60° C. 
     
     
       12. A method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said predetermined pH level is between about 8.0 and about 9.0. 
     
     
       13. A method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said chemical reagent is acetylsalicylic acid. 
     
     
       14. A method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said builder composition includes a per-salt. 
     
     
       15. A method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said per-salt is sodium perborate. 
     
     
       16. In an apparatus for deactivating medical instruments and devices having a circulation system for circulating a fluid through a decontamination chamber for holding medical instruments and devices, a method of generating a microbial deactivation fluid comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a first compartment and a second compartment in said circulation system; 
 (b) providing a chemical reagent in said first compartment and a builder composition in said second compartment; 
 (c) causing said fluid to flow through said second compartment to begin dissolving said builder composition to create an alkaline fluid in said decontamination chamber; 
 (d) when said alkaline fluid in said decontamination chamber has reached a predetermined pH level, causing said alkaline fluid to flow through said first compartment to begin dissolving said chemical reagent to generate a microbial deactivation fluid; and 
 (e) maintaining the concentration of said microbial deactivation fluid flowing through said decontamination chamber at a predetermined concentration for an instrument exposure period of time by continuously dissolving said chemical reagent at a first rate and said builder composition at a second rate during said instrument exposure period of time. 
 
     
     
       17. A method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said predetermined pH level is between about 8.0 and about 9.0. 
     
     
       18. A method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said chemical reagent is acetylsalicylic acid. 
     
     
       19. A method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said builder composition includes a per-salt. 
     
     
       20. A method as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said per-salt is sodium perborate. 
     
     
       21. In an apparatus for deactivating medical instruments and devices having a circulation system for circulating a fluid through a decontamination chamber for holding medical instruments and devices, a method of generating a microbial deactivation fluid comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a first compartment and a second compartment in said circulation system; 
 (b) providing a chemical reagent in said first compartment and a builder composition in said second compartment; 
 (c) causing said fluid to flow through said second compartment to begin dissolving said builder composition to create an alkaline fluid in said decontamination chamber; 
 (d) after a predetermined amount of time, causing said alkaline solution to flow through said first compartment to begin dissolving said chemical reagent to generate a microbial deactivation fluid; and 
 (e) maintaining the concentration of said microbial deactivation fluid flowing through said decontamination chamber at a predetermined concentration for an instrument exposure period of time by continuously dissolving said chemical reagent at a first rate and said builder composition at a second rate during said instrument exposure period of time. 
 
     
     
       22. A method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said predetermined amount of time is based on said alkaline solution achieving a predetermined pH level. 
     
     
       23. A method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said predetermined pH level is between about 8.0 and about 9.0. 
     
     
       24. A method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said chemical reagent is acetylsalicylic acid. 
     
     
       25. A method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said builder composition includes a per-salt. 
     
     
       26. A method as defined in  claim 25 , wherein said per-salt is sodium perborate. 
     
     
       27. A method as defined in  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
 h) fluidly isolating said first compartment and said second compartment from said circulation system; 
 i) conveying a rinse water through said first compartment and said second compartment to remove residual microbial deactivation fluid therefrom; and 
 j) conveying a pressurized air through said first compartment and said second compartment to remove said rinse water therefrom. 
 
     
     
       28. A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first flow rate is faster than said second flow rate. 
     
     
       29. A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first flow rate causes said chemical reagent to dissolve at a first rate and said second flow rate causes said builder composition to dissolve at a second rate.